Gelato Messina and Frenchies Brewery Are Teaming Up to Bring Craft Beer Spiders to Sydney

The spider (or float, depending on who you ask) is a nostalgic treat with a special place in many people's hearts. And craft beer is also beloved across Sydney, with the city full of independent breweries creating classic and inventive hoppy creations. But, do the two mix? Two Sydney favourites have set out to find out just that. For four days in July, Gelato Messina and Frenchies Brewery are getting into the beer float business.

Between Thursday, July 6–Sunday, July 9, the two local legends will be setting up at Frenchies Brewery in Rosebery just a few doors down from The Cannery. Here, they'll be offering a series of six different beer-and-gelato combos that they promise have been carefully curated — and tested ‚ to win over anyone who may be sceptical about the flavour pairing.

Among the combos is Frenchie's Aperitivo Seltzer with blood orange sorbet, the Hazy XPA with coconut and lychee gelato, and the Mango Milkshake IPA with mango sorbet. The coconut and lychee gelato will also be paired with the Lapérouse brew, and the Hazy IPA can be combined with the strawberry and cream gelato. Rounding out the unexpected duos is the Kamchatka beer with raspberry sorbet.

Messina and Frenchies have also promised that each float will provide a visual spectacle when combined. You'll have to head to the Rosebery gelateria to find out exactly what this sight entails.

"Ever since Messina became our neighbours in The Cannery, we've been brainstorming creative ways to collaborate, and after we met with the team earlier this year, the idea for a beer float creation came to life," says Frenchies co-owner and Head Brewer Vincent de Soyers.

"From there, our brewing team engaged in some research and development — there could be worse jobs, I know — and we landed on six unique combinations, which are as tasty as they are cool to watch as they evolve in the glass."

Gelato Messina and Frenchies Brewing's spider pop-up will run from 12pm on Thursday, July 6 to 4pm on Sunday, July 9 at Frenchies Brewery, 6/61-71 Mentmore Avenue, Rosebery.